Opinion Columnists

Hubbard: Rating the 2012 political ads

A study released last week confirms what anyone who loves watching the NFL, "The Voice," or just about anything else on television already knows: Denver is at the center of the political advertising universe.

From Oct. 1-21, the Mile High market was tops in the country for presidential advertising by volume, according to data compiled for the Wesleyan Media Project.

The same study ranked the 6th Congressional District race between Republican Mike Coffman and Democrat Joe Miklosi 13th nationally when considering ad counts and cost.

Put another way: You have good reason to be sick of political advertising.

But let's be honest with one another. If you're reading this column, it means you're either very lonely, a relative (hi, Mom!), or have more than a passing interest in politics. And if, like me, you're in the latter category, you're probably not sick of political advertising at all.

In fact, you may view it as cinema verite, critiquing it for qualities ranging from truth-twisting to humor, from clever use of still photos of the opposition to overall effectiveness.

Each election cycle there are memorable ads, such as the 2010 bit featuring John Hickenlooper showering with his clothes on. Conversely, there are plenty more that are deplorable or entirely forgettable. Do you recall the Dan Maes ad from his failed 2010 GOP bid for governor? Me neither.

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With that, here are my selections for 2012's ads that worked and ads that needed more work.

The Republican needed a way to break away from the image that his wealth and success were owed primarily to the beer business launched by his grandfather. His first ad, in which he cracked that he was "not a beer," did it about as well as you could expect.

OK, so we now know that Eastwood isn't going to vote for the empty chair-impersonator. While not technically a political ad, the Chrysler commercial that aired during the Super Bowl was so powerful that folks on the right and the left couldn't ignore it.

The ad trumpeting the Democratic congressional candidate for his integrity was pulled and edited after The Denver Post's Lynn Bartels pointed out photos featuring Shaffer in his Navy uniform failed to include a required disclaimer.

Did I miss one? E-mail your links to chubbard@denverpost.com or tweet them to @curtishubbard.

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